IOSR Journal of Mechanical and Civil Engineering (IOSR-JMCE)

e-ISSN: 2278-1684,p-ISSN: 2320-334X, Volume 12, Issue 1 Ver. II (Jan- Feb. 2015), PP 51-56
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Design and Analysis of Mono Composite Leaf Spring by Varying

Thickness using FEA
Sagar B Mahajan1, Prof.M.C.Swami2 , Permeshwar Patil3
1

(PG Student, Mechanical Engineering Department, M.S.Bidve Engineering College Latur/

S.R.T.M.U.Nanded,India)
2
(Mechanical Engineering Department, M.S.Bidve Engineering College Latur/ S.R.T.M.U.Nanded,India)
3
(Mechanical Engineering Department, G. N. D. Engineering College, Bidar, Karnataka, India)

Abstract: Increasing competition and innovation in automobile sector tends to modify the existing products by
new and advanced material products. Conservation of metals is an important issue these days. A suspension
system of vehicle is also an area where these innovations are carried out regularly. Leaf springs are universally
accepted suspension components that are being still used widely in automobiles. Weight reduction is also given
due importance by automobile manufacturers. The automobile industry has shown keen interest in the use of
composite leaf spring in the place of conventional leaf spring due to its high strength to weight ratio. The
introduction of composite materials has made it possible to reduce the weight of the leaf spring without any
reduction in load carrying capacity and stiffness. The objective of this paper is to present a general study on the
Design and Analysis of composite (Glass Fibre Reinforced Composite- GFRC) leaf spring. Static analysis is
performed out in FEA based software Ansys14.5 with design constrain as Stress, Deflection with varying
thickness.
Keywords: Ansys 14.5, Mono composite leaf Spring, Glass Fiber Reinforced Composite (GFRC),

I.

Introduction

To meet the needs of natural resource conservation and energy economy, automobile manufacturers
have been attempting to reduce the weight of vehicles in recent years[1] .The suspension spring is one of most
important system in automobile which reduce jerk, vibration and absorb shocks during riding in automobiles
like light motor vehicles, heavy duty trucks and in rail systems. It carries lateral loads, brake torque, driving
torque in addition to shock absorbing [3]. Weight reduction can be achieved primarily by the introduction of
better material, design optimization and better manufacturing processes. The suspension leaf spring is one of the
potential items for weight reduction in automobiles as it accounts for 10% - 20% of the un-sprung weight. This
achieves the vehicle with more fuel efficiency and improved riding qualities. The introduction of composite
materials was made it possible to reduce the weight of the leaf spring without any reduction on load carrying
capacity and stiffness[2]. The leaf spring should absorb the vertical vibrations and impacts due to road
irregularities by means of vibrations in the spring and the energy absorbed is stored in spring as strain energy
and then released slowly. Thus strain energy of material used for spring is the important property to be
considered. The specific strain energy is inversely proportional to the density and Youngs modulus. It can be
easily observed that material having lower modulus and density will have a greater specific strain energy
capacity. Conventional leaf spring has less specific modulus strength. Conventional leaf spring are usally
manufactured and assembled by using number of leaf made of steel and hence weight is more. Its corrosion
resistance is more compared to composite leaf spring, it has less damping capacity. Hence, composite material
becomes a very strong candidate for such applications[7]. Finite Element analysis tools offer the tremendous
advantage of enabling design teams to consider virtually any molding option without incurring the expense
associated with manufacturing and machine time.[5]
In present work an attempt is made to replace existing conventional leaf spring by mono composite leaf
spring made of composite material Glass Fiber Reinforced Composite (GFRC).Conventional and Composite
leaf spring is designed and analysis with constant width and varying thickness in Ansys14.5.

II.

Materials

2.1Selection of material
Materials of the leaf spring should be consist of nearly 60%-70% of the vehicle cost and contribute to
the quality and the performance of the vehicle[4]. Even a small amount in weight reduction of the vehicle, may
have a wider economic impact. Composite materials are proved as suitable substitutes for steel in connection
with weight reduction of the vehicle. Composite material has less weight due to this fuel consumption would be
reduced, high damping capacity due this produce less vibration and noise, they have good corrosion resistance,
DOI: 10.9790/1684-12125156

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Design and Analysis of Mono Composite Leaf Spring by Varying Thickness using FEA
high specific modulus and strength and longer fatigue life. Hence, the composite materials have been selected
for leaf spring design.
2.2Fibres selection
The commonly used fibers are carbon, glass, keviar, etc. Among these, the glass fiber has been selected based on
the cost factor and strength. The types of glass fibers are C-glass, S-glass and E-glass. The C-glass fiber is designed to give
improved surface finish. S-glass fiber is design to give very high modular, which is used particularly in aeronautic
industries[4]. The E-glass fiber is a high quality glass, which is used as standard reinforcement fiber for all the present
systems well complying with mechanical property requirements. Thus, E-glass fiber was found appropriate for this
application.

2.3Resins selection
Many thermo set resins such as polyester, vinyl ester epoxy resin are being used for fiber reinforcement
plastics (FRP) fabrication. Among these resin systems, epoxies show better inter laminar shear strength and
good mechanical properties Different grades of epoxy resins and hardener combinations are classifieds, based
on the mechanical properties. Among these grades, the grade of epoxy resin selected is Dobeckot 520 F and the
grade of hardener used for this application is 758. Dobeckot 520 F is a solvent less epoxy resin. This in
combination with hardener 758 cures into hard resin. Hardener 758 is a low viscosity polyamine. Dobeckot 520
F, hardener 758 combinations is characterized by good mechanical and electrical properties, faster curing at
room temperature and good chemical resistance properties.[4]
III.
Mechanical Properties Of Material
3.1. Material for Steel leaf spring
The material selected for steel leaf spring is 55si2Mn90.[2]
The design parameters selected for steel leaf are listed in table 1.
Table-1: design parameters of steel leaf sprig

3.2. Materials for Composite leaf spring

Based on the specific strain energy of steel spring and some composite materials, the E-glass/epoxy is
selected as the spring material. The parameters for composite leaf spring material are listed in table 2.
Table-2: parameters of GFRC leaf spring

The specification of leaf spring [1] is as follows b=45mm t=30mm L=1010mm.

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Design and Analysis of Mono Composite Leaf Spring by Varying Thickness using FEA
IV.

Specification Of Problem

The objective of the present work is to design the E-glass/epoxy composite leaf spring for automobile
suspension system and analyze it. This is done to achieve following
To replace conventional steel leaf spring with E-glass/epoxy composite leaf spring.
To achieve substantial weight reduction in the suspension by replacing steel leaf spring with composite leaf
spring.
A virtual model of both steel and mono composite leaf created in DM-design modular in Ansys14.5
constant width and varying thickness and for analysis by applying Static Loading condition. After analysis
a comparison is made between existing conventional steel leaf spring and mono composite leaf spring in
terms of deflection, Stress.

V.

Results And Discussions

5.1Analytical Calculation
In present analysis at load 300kg.

,
Table-3: Analytical Result of Conventional and composite Leaf Spring.

5.2 FEA (Finite Element Analysis)

FEA tool is the mathematical idealization of real system. Its a computer based method that breaks
geometry into element and link a series of equation to each, which are then solved simultaneously to evaluate
the behavior of the entire system.[5]. Ansys14.5 software is commercially available software which is capable
of analyzing the given part by means of structural, thermal, fluid ,harmonic analysis.

Fig.1.Typical FEA procedures by commercial software

5.2.1Geometry of leaf spring and Model meshing of leaf spring
This geometry has been created in Design modeler (DM) Ansys14.5as per dimensions as shown in
fig3. The meshed model of mono leaf spring with an element size of 5mm brick mesh is as shown in fig 4

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Design and Analysis of Mono Composite Leaf Spring by Varying Thickness using FEA

Fig.2. 3-D Model of leaf spring

Fig.3. Meshed model of leaf spring

5.2.2 Fixed Support and cylindrical support.

For the leaf spring analysis one eye end of the leaf spring is fixed to the chassis of the vehicle and the
fixed support at another eye end of the leaf spring model. and cylindrical support is applied to the other eye end
of leaf spring model.

Fig.4. Fixed support and cylindrical support with load

5.3.FEA Results
5.3.1Deflection for composite leaf spring at varying thickness

Fig. 5 deformation of Composite leaf spring at thickness 28mm,30mm and 32mm respectively
Table-4: FEA Result of deformation of Composite leaf spring at thickness 28mm,30mm and 32mm.

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Design and Analysis of Mono Composite Leaf Spring by Varying Thickness using FEA
5.3.2.Stress for Composite Leaf Spring at varying thickness.

Fig. 6. Stress of Composite leaf spring at thickness 28mm,30mm and 32mm respectively
Table-5: FEA Result of Stresses of Composite leaf spring at thickness 28mm,30mm and 32mm

VI. Graphical comparison of Conventional and composite Leaf spring

6.1Thickness Vs Deflection

Graph1: Analytical Result

6.1Thickness Vs Stresses

Graph2: FEA Result

Graph3: Analytical Result

6.2Thickness Vs Stiffness

Graph4: FEA Result

Graph5: Analytical Result

Graph6: FEA Result

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Design and Analysis of Mono Composite Leaf Spring by Varying Thickness using FEA
VI.

Conclusion

In present research work at static loading condition by varying thickness stress and deflection of GFRC
is found having difference as compared to conventional leaf spring. the analytical result were compared with
FEA of varying thickness shows good agreement with stress and deflection. Study demonstrated that composite
can be used for leaf spring meet the requirements.

VII.

Future Scope

a) Analysis of leaf spring is done by varying width and varying thickness

b) Harmonic analysis with finding and compression of first five natural Frequencies.
c) As this analysis is under static load condition, so one can go for the analysis of composite & steel leaf spring
under dynamic loading condition
d) Analysis is also done by another Software like Simulation, Hypermesh etc

Acknowledgements
I would like to thank Prof.M.C.Swami for Motivating me to undertake the project in comparative study
of leaf springs. I would also like to thank Prof.S.G.Mantri, Prof.K.S.Upase, Londhe A.B providing me the
Technical Knowledge about this project.

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